Tepper: Sean Kugler's resignation a sign of UTEP's tough climb

It was never going to be easy. UTEP exists in a unique spot in college athletics, thanks in large part to its geography — El Paso is out there, and some people have the wrong impression that it’s dangerous because of its proximity to Juarez, Mexico (when, in fact, El Paso is the safest large city in America). Perception versus reality aside, few have won at UTEP over its 80-year history. Mike Price is the winningest coach in program history, and he had a losing record overall. Mike Brumbelow has the highest winning percentage in program history in his seven-year stint from 1950-56, and he only won 46 games. It’s hard to win at UTEP. Kugler reportedly stepped down as head coach of the Miners on Sunday, five games (and five losses) into his fifth season at the helm of his alma mater. He finishes his tenure in El Paso with an 18-36 record and just one winning season — a 7-6 year in 2014. A former offensive lineman at UTEP, Kugler made his name as the offensive line coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers before joining the Miners in 2013. He sought to install a system that reflected his gruff, no-nonsense personality: a hard-nosed, trenches-first approach, thinking that a sturdy defense and a solid running game would lead to success in Conference USA. He was right, in spurts. He watched Aaron Jones blossom into one of the nation’s most exciting and reliable running backs, capping his career with a 1,773-yard, 17-touchdown year in 2016. He watched his defense step up in 2014, ranking 39^th nationally in total defense and finishing 18^th in turnover margin. Kugler’s system worked at times. But it never led to the consistent winning it takes to keep your job longer than five seasons. UTEP’s struggles all came to a head this season, as the Miners may lay claim to being the worst FBS team in the nation. The offense has nose-dived without Jones; the defense is allowing more than 490 yards per game; and the losses have had an ugly aesthetic to them, like the blowout loss to rival New Mexico State. And so Kugler is out. Soon, the process will begin to find his replacement, someone who can harness and lengthen those good moments, someone who can lift the Miners out of the FBS cellar. That's not to absolve Kugler of blame — his squads often looked unprepared and overmatched, and his inability to make winning adjustments ultimately cost him his job. This is his own doing. But the fact remains. Maybe one day it won’t be true, but it’s true today — it’s hard to win at UTEP. Sean Kugler found out the hard way.